0944 – Bunged up voice

2023.08.02 – 0944 – Bunged up voice

Bunged up voice (also see ‘nasal voice’)

Symptom: This permanent ‘cold-like’ sound is caused by ‘not enough’ sounded air to get to the nasal cavity, where the resonance of sound is changed. The voice sounds ‘thick’ or ‘clotted’ and there’s little resonance where there should be in some sounds (say ‘mmm’ and ‘ng’ – as in “sing” – and pinch your nose, and the sound should stop!)

Prescription:

·        However, the first thing to consider is that the speaker may have got into a bad habit (there is a current trend for this kind of sound which people may be emulating), or because of tension in the mouth and throat. The causes: either a raised back-of-tongue blocking airflow to the nose (do a ‘Mr Bean’ voice and you will feel what I mean). The very basic treatment is the same too: a relaxation of the mouth, jaw and throat, and lowering the back of the tongue.

·        Consider too why perhaps air is having trouble leaving through your nose. Perhaps you have a cold or allergy that’s causing it to be blocked. Maybe they have become swollen because of cigarette smoke, dairy food, dust or dry air. You can effect change with some of these issues, although antihistamines can also dry up your mucus. Oh, and blowing your nose to clear the passages may inflame the membranes even more. (Listen back to episodes 63 and 870 for more on ‘allergies and the voice’.)

·        Also consider always-helpful stress-busting techniques and looking at the potential cause of stress either personal (problems at home that are causing anxiety at work), or professional (upset with a colleague, uncomfortable at being on air, lack of training …). Episodes from 884 dealt with this topic.

·        This may because by some kind of physical formation in the nasal area, best investigated by a specialist such as a speech therapist, ENT expert or allergist.

·        The problem may be because you have a cold, so look back on the section on that, run previously.

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